Tile-fettling machine



Feb. 15, 1927. 1,618,061

A. w. QRlsTiANl TILE FETTLING MACHINE Filed Dec; 1 1923 2 sheets-sheen INVENTOR l ATTORNEYS.

.w wm, mmm Nm r Feb. 15,1927.

. A. uW.. CRISTIANI TILE FETTLING MACHINE 2 Sheets-SheetZ lFiled Deo. 1, 1923 IN VEN TOR.

, ATTORNEYS.

Y press Patented Feb. l5, 1927.Y

j relater -iJ-Nrrun STATES. PTNTQFFm/E ANTHONY W. cRIsTrANL oir-*RED BANK, NEW :musste TILE-FE'TLING McnIN.

A'ppnefation 'filed December 1,1522. serial lirofefeoa.A

"This inventionrelates to a machine yfor smoothing the rough edges o'fa `,tile which are 'caused by vsurplus material adhering to the edges during the pressingoperation in a tile press due vto the imperitecten'gagement andr wear of the .die members which form the tile,or for Voperating upon 'otherobjectsg more'particularly the invention consists-of an improvement on a machine of the'characi ter' described in my copzen'd'ing application filed J une l5, 1921, Serial No. 477 ,661. Y

The machine *described in saidV applicatien Consists generalof means `such as an endless ,conveyor co'operatinglwith two sets of fettling members such as abrading', rubbing or'scraping devices, one set for each of two angularly disposedpairs vof edges of a tile, whereby a plurality of tiles -in' a row 'are movedsuccessively by said conveyor to cause engagement ot oney parallel pairoiuedges ot feach "tile with one setV of saidl tettling ceive tile as they are discharged by a tile press, and where used with a `press which discharges a' plurality of rows of tilesja't one time, tw'o sets otfettling members for each row oi' tiles is required. As such an arrangement of fettlingmembers 'reqifiir'esi ai large amount ot space and the 'space available for such a machineis limited, a machine 'for ref ceiving a plurality of rowsoftiles from a at lone time and utilizing a Vminimum number of fettling members is desirable.

y The primary object ofthe 'present inven-` tionis' to provide a machine embodying novel and improved` featuresof construction for receiving simultaneouslyl a plurality of rows ot tiles or otherv objectsfrom a tile press or other source and so manipulating said tiles.

or `objects as to permit the jutilization of the sameuset otfettling or other members for operating upon the tiles or Yobjects of a plu# rality of said rows wl'iereby the'machine has large capacity, high eiiiciency, and occupies a small space. Y .Y A

Anther object is toV provide .such a vmachine having means for receivingsimultaneously a plurality ot' rows of `tiles ory other members, after which the tiles are succes? obj'ects ,'and means tor temporarily causing thejobjects ot different rowsfto move ,dif-

ferent velocities toward the `e'ttling or Ioperl` atingfmemb'ers, to `permit the objects lfrom i different rows to be alternately movedin a continuous 'row into engagement with 'the same operating members.

Aiurtherjob" "ct is to provideV in "such a machine novel j and improved means for alternately turning the tiles o'r other objects of: 'diilerent rows after one set of edges have be'enoper'atejdupon 'nefsetot ltettling or operating members to present 'edges angularly disposed to said first-mentioned `edges to the next set 'of tettling or operating inembers, said objects of different rows being moved into one continuous row betorethey engage the fettlingor operatingvmembers.

l Other objects are to provid'efa'machine of the character described including means for temporarily retarding movement of each ob-v ject of one rowwliile the corresponding object of another row is moved at 'its normal speed until it passes the irst-mentioned object, and means for moving said objectsinto alinement in yaA'c'ont'inuous-rojw to successivef ly engage the operating members; 'to thus provide Va `-plurality ofdentranc'eK guidewaysf one foreach of a plurality of rows of objects and one main guideway communicating with allot said pluralityv otuguideways torreceive all of said objecs, means being provided for temporarily ,retarding the entrance of the objects of one row into said main guideway while the 'corresponding object of another row is rmoved into `said main guideway, means being also provided in said main guideway for moving all of saidobjects into afcntinuous row to engage the operating members, and 'to obtain other results and advantages as may be brought out by the following description. 1 'l l u i' ilteterring to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate Vthe same parts throughout the severall views,

" Figure 2 isan enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 2 2' of Fig. l; f

Figure 3 1s an yenlarged longitudinalsectional `View of the entrance end of .the machine taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l; Y

`Figure 4 visv an" enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view showing the mounting for the tile retarding plate;

Figure is a similar view showing the ad-v justable mounting of the strips Vforming the tile guideways.

In the specific embodiment of the invention shown on the drawings, the reference characters 1 designate spaced and parallel sides of the frame of the machine which are adapted to be supported in any suitable manner in a substantiallyl horizontal position. The machine illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive is shown especially for use with a tile press, and one end of the Vframe is adapted to be mounted on the lower die member Yl3 of the press while the other' end may be supported by legs or standards, not shown. The sides l are connected at spaced intervals in, their length by means of inverted Tshaped braces 2 which extend transversely of the frame as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the said members 2 being spaced` from the top of the frame as shown in Figure 2. An endless conveyor is mounted longitudinally ofthe frame, and in the present instance I have shown the conveyor in the form of a `belt 3` which passes around a roller Ll at one end of the frame and around the drive roller 5 at the other endvof the vframe with the upper reach in substantially the plane of the die B of the press, the drive roller being connected by any suitable means such as a belt pulley 6 to a suitable source of power. The con'- st'ructi'on of the frame and conveyor may be substantially the same as that disclosed in my copending application, Serial No.

477,661, and the details thereof areoinitt-ed from this application as they are'not essential toV an vention. n

A plurality of guideways 7 are provided at one end of the' frame to receive a corresponding number of rows of tiles, said guideways forming th-e entrance for the tiles to the machine. A plurality of said guideways 7 are arranged to feed the tile into a common main guideway 8. Any number of ventrance guideways 7 may be provided in accordance with the'number of rows of tiles itis desired to accommodate, and preferably one main guideway 8 is utilized for each two entrance guideways 7. In the present instance, the guideways 7 are arranged in alinement with the die cavities of the tile press so as to be capable of receiving the tiles as they are discharged from the press. It is a feat-ure of the invention to provide means for alternately admitting tilesV from diii'erent entrance guideways 7 into the main guideway 8 so that the tiles from the plurality of entrance guideways leading to the corresponding main guidewaysS may be arranged in alinement in a continuous row to be Vmoved into engagement with fett'ling Vso that four guideways 7 understanding of the present inguide strip 12 is arranged intermediate each the central strip V10 are providedtransf Said guideways of the side strips 9 and versely of the machine.Vr are shown as of a width slightly greater than the width of the tiles A to be operated upon, and the strips 9,10 and 12 are spaced slightlyl above the conveyor 3 so as not to interfere with the operation of the conveyor belt. At opposite sides of each ofl the guide-ways 7 are arranged fettling members 1S whichfmay be of any suitable construction, for instance such vas disclosed in my copending application. Briefly described, said fettling members comprise body portions lt ywhichare secured to the respective guide strips in any suitable manner at substantially an angle of forty-five degrees, the body portions 14 at opposite sidesof each of the guideways converging inwardly toward each other. VAbrasive elements 15, preferably consisting of laminated strips of hard bre Vand sandpaper, are secured at one end to the undersides Aof the body portions 14 so that the free Vends thereof are adapted to lie inthe path of the edges of the tiles moving through the guideways 7. l/Vitih this construction, it will be obvious that the conveyorl belt will move the tiles through the guide ways and that the abrading elements will yieldingly engage the edges of and8 may be conven lll() the tiles to remove the surplus Vmaterial s therefrom. This fettling operation is more specifically described in my said vcopending application. l IV j One manner of retarding the tiles of certain Iof the rowsswhile the tiles of other rows are permitted to move .forwardly with the conveyor at their normal velocities, consists of a plate 16 of sheet metal secured to the undersidesof the guide strips-12 and the center guide strip 10 at the forward ends of the guideways 7, said plate being adapted to substantially lie upon the conveyor belt 3. With this construction when the tiles are discharged from the press in the usual manner, those tiles in alinement with the two intermediate gui'dcways 7 will be forced upon the sheet metal Vplate 16, it beingunderstood that the tiles vare usually forciblypushed from the die member'B byfmeans of a dust box or the like. It will thus be seen that thel said two tiles in the intermediate guideways 7 will be lifted from'the conveyor belt by the plate 16 and held against movement by the belt, while ythe tiles in the two outer Y ner7 thetiles in the outer 'and inner guide-V guideivay's continue their movements with the Vbelt through the guideways and between the fettling members 13'. Upon ,the discharge of the next batch `of tiles from the press, the same 'action takes place, 'the two tiles which were 'initially positioned 'onthe plateV 16 being displacedby the subsequent corresponding tiles :discharged from the press. Thus, the tiles Vin the yintermediatev guiideways 7 are always 'at a distance ahead of 'the vtiles in the outer guideways equal to at least the length of the tiles, the vtwo tiles on the plate -16 forming apart ofone batch moving ahead of the 'outside tiles of the next subsequent batch at a @distance substantially equal t the length of the tiles.: In this manw'ays 7 are caused to enter the corresponding main guideway's 8 in alternate relation.v

vThe platel may be mounted on the 4 Jjuide Strips 12 and 10 in anysuitab'le manner, but

in are present .fia-stance i have grown the.

lize jam nuts 19 on the screws 17. It will be 'understood that the plate v16 is of hard smooth metal and its edges to be crossed by Athe tiles will be rounded as gat 720 so that no injuryto the edges of the tiles will occ-ur as they rideupon the plate. Y

As the tiles leave the entrance guideways 7 theyl renter the main guidevvays 8, and in accrdnnce -with the invention arev here turnedV through Van angle of substantially ninety degrees for the purpose ofpresentthe sides thereof at angles 'to the sides operated upon by the fettling members `13 to a 'second s'et of fet'tling meinb"ers21 The fett-ling members 2l maybe identic'alin conv 'struction with the fettling members v14 and 'arranged inthe 'same relation'to theguide- `i'v'ay's 8, said Yfettling members 21 beingk disposed at the 'ends Iof the guide'ways 8"oppoy 'sitethe entrance guideways 7. The width of the iguidew'ay's 8 between the fettling- "membersl 21 is Vslightly greater than the length of the tiles, while vthe intermediate width of the guideways 8 is slightly greater to permit turning of the tiles as hereinafter described. i

For turning the tiles the inner edges of' the buter guide strips`9 are provided with shoulders 22 adapted to be 'engaged by one corner of the tile moving through the outer guid'ewy 7 'to temporarily interrupt said corner while the other portions of the tile are moved by the conveyor 3 about the corner as fulci'iui, as clearly shown in Figure -1 of the drawings.. 'opposa Sides @fue @entre guide strip 10 are provided with similar shoulders 23 -spaced longitudinally of the guideways 8 with relation to vthe shoulders 22 to be engaged by the inner tiles for turning them on the conveyor' in the same manner as the "outer tiles are, turned by the shoulders 22. It will thus be seen that vboth the inner and outer tiles in both guideways 8 are turned through angles of 'substantially a continuous row, 'so that theylin'ay be moved between fthe fet'tling members 251, 'which-are a'dapt'edto remove the surplus material'at the kend edges of the tiles. Y

For the purpose of adjusting the 'width of the guideways 7l and 8, the guide ystrips 9,l 10 'and 12 may carry screws passing through slots 33v in the cross pieces 2 andl provided with wing nuts '34. `0bviously, the screws and wing nuts securely support the guide strips on the cross-pieces 2 and by purpose of removing this Adust `before thev tiles are subjected tothe'gla'zing operation,` 'I

Yninety 'degrees and arranged iny alinemen'tiin A mayl journal a brush'35 in bearings-'36 trans- 1 Vversely of the frame to vengage the 'tops of the tiles as they are moved by the conveyor 3. The brush may be constantly rotated by any suitable means suchas vthe chain "and sprocket connection 38 with the drive roller 5..

lVhile I haye shown 'and' described one possible embodiment of my invention, it will be Aunderstood `Vthatsthisis mainly for the purpose of illustratingthe principles' of the invention and thatlmany modifications and changes can be made in the detail 'construction and y'-arranfgement of the guidevvays 7 fand 8 andthe retarding "devices, 'without deiparting from the spirit or scope vofthei'nvention. Furthermore, the inventi'o'nis susceptible lofuse in devices `for conveying other articles or objects than tile'and for 'other purposes than fettling, abrading, polishing, et'c. Therefore, I do not wish to be unclerstood as limiting myself except as require'd ino by the following claims when construed in A.

the light of the prior art.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is: y

1. A machine ,of the-character described comprising a support to receive simultaneously a plurality of rows of objects, means for causing successively the objects of different ones Vof said rowsgto move 'o'n said support at diiferent velocities and all of said objects tom'ove at the same velocities, whereby the objects of certain rows are caused to move ahead of the corresponding objects'in izo ran

lio

the other rows, means for manipulatingfsaid' objects on said support to. position all ot said` objects in a singlek continuous row, and

means for operating upon4 said objects as tiey are moved on said support.

2. A machine of the character described comprising a support to receive simultaneously a pluralityV of rows of objects, means for causing successively theV objects of different ones ol'said rows `to move on said support at diiterent velocities and all of said objects to move at the same velocities, .wherebythe'obje'cts o certain rows are caused to move ahead oit the correspondingy objects in the other rows, a guideway lto receive said objects successively one at a time, automatic means for causing said objects vto enter said rguideway one at a timein a single row,and

means ateach side ot said cuidewa Afor o 3- I erating upon said objects as they are .moved on said support.Y

3." A machine ol the character described comprising a support 'to receive simultaneon said support.

ously a plurality of rows of objects, means for moving'said objects on said support,

means for temporarily retarding movement or the objects of certain of said rows to p ermitthe corresponding objects ofthe other rows to move aheadvof saidY first-mentioned rows, means for positioning the'objects from said rows alternatelyin a single continuous row, and means for operating upon said objects as they are moved on said support.

4f, A machine of the character described comprisinga support to receive simultaneously a plurality of rows of'objects, means for moving said objects on said support, means for temporarily r-etarding movement of the objects of certain of said rows to permit the corresponding objects of the other rows to moveahead of saidk first-mentioned rows, means for moving the objects from all of said-rows on said support alternately into a single continuous row, and means Vfor operating upon said objects as they are moved f5. A machine of the character described Y comprising a conveyor to receive and move simultaneously a plurality of rows ot objects, means for holding the objects of Certain of said rows against movement with said conveyor to permit the corresponding objects of the other rows to be moved ahead ot said first-mentioned objects, means tor causing movement of said objects relatively to vsaid conveyor to position all ol saidobjects in a single continuous row, and means "for operating upon said objects as they are moved by said conveyor,

6. Av machine of the character described comprising a conveyor to receive and move simultaneously plurality of rows oic objects, means lined relatively to said conveyor to be engaged by theobjects in certain of said rows to hold said objects against movement with said conveyorand permit movement -of the corresponding objects of the other rows ahead ot ther first-mentioned objects,-means for positioning all of saidobjects in a singlel continuous rou/,Land means'for operating upon said objects as they are moved by said conveyor. 1 y j. j

7. A machine of the character described comprising` a support to receive simultaneously a plurality of rows koit objects,A means for movingl vsaid objects olf different rows' on said support at different velocities and transversely relative to each other to position all of said objects in asingle contin` nous row, and means for operating Vupon said objects in each of said rows as `they are moved on said support.

8. l machine or the charactern described comprising` a conveyor to receive andniove simultaneously a plurality of rows of objects, means for causing successive relative longitudinal and relative transverse movement of i jously. a plurality ot rows of objects, means tor causing successively the objects of different ones of said rows to move on said support at different velocities and all or' `said objects to move at the same velocities, wherebytheobjects of certain rows are caused to move ahead ot the corresponding objects in the other` rows, means for turning all of saidl objects in their own planes on said supf port and positioning'them in a singlecontinuous rowV simultaneously with said turn-v ing, and means foroperating uponsaidobjects in each of said rows as they aremoved on said support.k f

l0. A machine of the character described comprising a conveyor to receive and move simultaneously avplurality or rows oi'' objects, means ror holding the objects of certainvof said rows against movement with said conveyor to lpermit the corresponding objects of the other rows to be moved ahead of said first-mentioned objects means lined relatively to said conveyor for successively turningrall of saidV objects in, their own planes on said conveyor and positioning them in a Vsingle continuous row simultaneously with said turning', and means for operating upon said objects in each ot said rows as they are moved-by said conveyor.

ll. A machine of the character described comprising a frame, apluralityV of guideways spaced transversely ot'said frame to receive simultaneouslya corresponding number of rows of objects, a second guideway to receive said objects of all of said rows Vway for moving all of said objects into a single continuous row for entry into said j jects as they aremoved second-mentioned guideway, and a second series of operating members to engage said objects as they are movedr through said second-mentioned i guideway,

12. A machine of the character described comprising a frame, a plurality of guideways spaced transversely of said frame to receive simultaneously a corresponding number of rows oi objects, a second guideway to receive said objects ot all of saidrows successively one at a time, means for moving said objects through said first-mentioned guideways, means in certain of said 'guideways :tor retarding movement of said objects therethrough whereby the corresponding objects of the other guideways are moved ahead of said irst-mentioned objects, means Y between said tiret-mentioned guideways and the second-mentioned guideway for turning all of said objects in their own planes and positioning them in a single continuous row .for entry into said second-inentioned guideway, and means for operating upon said obthrough each of said guideways. l

13. A machine of the character described comprising a frame, a conveyor thereon to simultaneously receive and move a plurality of rows of objects, means on said frame above said conveyor and arranged in the paths oi the objects in certain of said rows to raise said objects from said conveyor and hold said objects against movement to permit the corresponding ones of said objects to move ahead of the first-mentioned objects,

andv means for operating upon said objects as they are moved by said conveyor.

14. A'machine oi the character described comprising a frame, a conveyor thereon to simultaneously receive and move a'plurality ot rows of objects, plates on said fram( above said conveyor and arranged in the paths of the objects in certain .of said rows, said objects. being moved upon said plates from said conveyor whereby said objectsare Y held against movement topermit the corresponding objects of other rows to move ahead of said first-mentioned objects, and

means for operating upon said objects as they are moved by said conveyor.

15. A machine of the character described comprising a frame, a conveyor thereon to simultaneously receive and move a plurality;

of rows of objects, plates on said frame above said conveyor and arranged in the paths of the objects in certain of said rows,

Vsaid objects being moved upon said plates from said conveyor whereby said objects are held against movement to permit the corresponding objects of other rows to move ahead of said first-mentioned objects, and

said first-mentioned objects being removed from said plates onto said conveyor by the next succeeding objects.k in the corresponding rows as the latter move upon said plates, and means for operating upon said objects as they are moved by said conveyor.

16. A tile fettling machine including a frame, a conveyor `thereon to receive and move simultaneously a plurality of rows of tiles, a series of fettling members on said frame for each row of tiles to engage opposite parallel corner edges of said tiles as they are moved by said conveyor, means on said frame for retarding movement of the tiles in certain of said rows while the corresponding tiles of other rows move ahead of the rst-inentioned tiles, after operation thereon by said fettling members, a second are moved by the conveyor, and means for positioningall oi said tiles in a single continuous row for operation thereon by said series of fettlin'g members.

18. VA tile fettling machine including a fra-me, a conveyor thereon toA receivel and move simultaneously a plurality of rows of tiles, a: series of itettling members'onsaid frame for all of said rowsto engage opposite parallel corner edges of said tiles as they are moved by the conveyor, means for retarding movement of the tiles incertain of said rows to permit corresponding tiles of other rows to move ahead of the irst-mentioned tiles, and means for producing relative trans' verse movement of said first-mentioned and said second-mentioned tiles toposition all of said tiles in a single continuous row for operation thereon by'said fettling members.

j ANTHONY iw.' 'ciaIsTIANIey 'im i" 

